Cephaelis Ipecuacanha, while the white is the root of the Richardsonia Brasiliensis, which is exported largely 
to Portugal. Besides these the name of Ipecacuan, which is a compound of ipi, the Peruvian word for 
root, and Cacuanha, the name of the district where this root was first procured, has come by a common 
license of language to mean vomiting root, and is given to various species of Cynanchum, Asclepias, Eu- 
phorbia, Dorstenia, &c. , and with regard to their comparative power, De Candolle says, that vomiting is 
produced by twenty-two grains of the Cynanchum / ; by twenty-four of the Psychotria emetica ; and by 
from sixty to seventy-two of the Yiola calceolaria. 
Qualities and Chemical Properties. — The roots of ipecacuan consist of two parts, an internal 
ligneous axis resembling a thread, upon which the annulated bark seems strung like beads. The first is i 
inert, the second contains the active principles ; hence, for medical use these should be separated, the cor- I 
tical portion alone being worthy of preservation. Pelletier found on analysis that 100 parts of the bark 
yielded 16 parts emetine, while the woody axis afforded only 1.15, so that the difference of the action is j 
satisfactorily accounted for. Powdered Ipecacuan has a sickly odour, and a bitterish acrid taste ; and on ! 
those who pulverize it, sometimes excites such powerful effects, as to produce nausea, faintings, and spit- I 
ting of blood. . i 
Medical Properties and Uses. — The utility of Ipecacuanha is generally known and very properly | 
appreciated. As an emetic, it operates in doses of from five to thirty grains, surely and efficiently; without I 
depressing the system at large, like many other emetics, or injuring the mucous membrane of the stomach ; j 
it is therefore, to be preferred as a mere evacuant of this organ ; and if we wish to induce its speedy operation 
without exciting much nausea, we can give it in the fullest doses with perfect safety. Its power as an ! 
emetic has been rather undervalued in one particular view ; for, if opium be taken, recourse is generally had | 
to violent remedies, which by simple contact with the stomach, when in a torpid condition, cannot fail to j 
produce injurious results. We remember, says Professor Burnett, to have heard Dr. Currie narrate a case ; 
of this kind, when the sulphates of zinc, and of copper, failed to produce their accustomed effects ; he there- | 
fore poured some boiling water on a quantity of powdered Ipecacuanha, and as soon as it was cool enough i 
caused large doses to be swallowed, which were the speedy means of causing vomiting, and of saving the life 
of the patient. Since then, we have borne this in mind : and in two or three similar cases, have found the I 
unstrained infusion quite equal to its task. 
Ipecacuanha is sometimes employed in a full dose on the accession of the paroxysm of intermittent 
fever ; and by destroying the link which held the chain of diseased sympathies together, it has often suc- 
ceeded in cutting short the disease. Paroxysms of spasmodic asthma, also, often yield to the same treat- 
ment ; and in the more chronic form of that disease, small doses, advantageously produce both expectora- 
tion and perspiration. In chronic dysentery and diarrhoea, it is a most useful medicine, in small doses; and 
we think, says Professor Burnett, that its power over these diseases may be attributed to the following I 
circumstances ; in the first place, it has a tendency to excite diaphoresis, by which the circulation is equa- 
lized, and a great determination of blood to the diseased parts is taken off ; secondly, it sometimes, ! ■ 
even in very small doses, excites nausea, and gentle vomiting, which not only check arterial action in a ; 
powerful manner, but by this very inversion of the peristaltic motion of the intestines, destroy the harmony j 
of disordered actions ; and thirdly, when vomiting is not produced, it appears to promote secretion in 
the lining membrane of the bowels, whereby a healthy condition is eventually re-established. Given in ■ 
doses of half a grain even, it produces the last-mentioned effects on the stomach ; and is, therefore, I 
frequently prescribed in cases of dyspepsia, attended by a foul tongue. Under the name of Dover’s 
powder, they form one of the most powerful and useful sudorifics that can be employed for acute, or chronic j 
rheumatism, and for eruptive diseases that are disposed to recede. Nauseating doses of Ipecacuanha are 
also useful for hooping cough, epilepsy, and amaurosis. 
Preparation of Coloured Emetine. — Reduce Ipecacuanha to powder, and digest it in ether at 60° to 
dissolve the fatty odorous matter. When the powder yields nothing more to the ether, exhaust it again by 
means of alcohol. Place the alcoholic tinctures in a water-bath, and re-dissolve the residue in cold water. 
It thus loses a portion of wax, and a little of the fatty matter, which still remained. It is only necessary 1 1 ; 
farther to macerate it on carbonate of magnesia, by which it loses its gallic acid; to re-dissolve it in alcohol, j - 
and to evaporate it to dryness. But pure emetine is not obtainable in this way, although it may serve for j 
medical purposes. It presents itself in the form of transparent scales, of a reddish brown colour, having 
scarcely any smell, but a bitter though not disagreeable taste. It supports a temperature equal to that of j 
boiling water, without any change: it is highly deliquescent, soluble in water, and uncrystallizable. 
Action of Emetine on the Animal System. — Experiments have shown that this substance, given to dogs I . 
and cats, to the extent of from half a grain to two or three grains, produced vomiting, followed sometimes n 
by long protracted sleep : but when given to a greater extent, such as ten grains, it produced upon dogs 
repeated vomiting, accompanied by stupor, in which the animal, instead of recovering, as in the other case, 
commonly died in the course of twenty-four hours. On opening the body, the cause of death was dis- * 
covered to be a violent inflammation of the pulmonary tissue, and of the mucous membrane of the intestinal I i 
canal, from the cardia to the anus — phenomena very analogous to those described by Majendie, in a separate i 
memoir on the action of tartar emetic. The same effects are produced whether the emetine be injected into 
the jugular vein, or simply absorbed from any part of the body. 
Two grains taken on an empty stomach, gave rise to protracted vomiting, followed by a marked dis- ] 
position to sleep. Sometimes a quarter of a grain will be sufficient to excite nausea and vomiting. 
Off Prep.- — Pulvis Ipecacuanhae Compositus. L. D. Yinum Ipecacuanhse. L.E.T). 
